Probing the Ca(2+)-assisted π-π interaction during Ca(2+)-dependent protein folding

Soft Matter. 2016 Jan 14;12(2):531-41. doi: 10.1039/c5sm01796c. Epub 2015 Oct 22.

Abstract

Protein folding is governed by a balance of non-covalent interactions, of which cation-π and π-π play important roles. Theoretical calculations revealed a strong cooperativity between cation-π involving alkali and alkaline earth metal ions and π-π interactions, but however, no experimental evidence was provided in this regard. Here, we characterized a Ca(2+)-binding self-processing module (SPM), which mediates a highly-specific Ca(2+)-dependent autocatalytic processing of iron-regulated protein FrpC secreted by the pathogenic Gram-negative bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. The SPM undergoes a Ca(2+)-induced transition from an intrinsically unstructured conformation to the compact protein fold that is ultimately stabilized by the π-π interaction between two unique tryptophan residues arranged in the T-shaped orientation. Moreover, the pair of tryptophans is located in a close vicinity of a calcium-binding site, suggesting the involvement of a Ca(2+)-assisted π-π interaction in the stabilization of the tertiary structure of the SPM. This makes the SPM an excellent model for the investigation of the Ca(2+)-assisted π-π interaction during Ca(2+)-induced protein folding.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Binding Sites
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium / pharmacology*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Conformation / drug effects
  • Protein Folding / drug effects*
  • Protein Unfolding / drug effects

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • frpC protein, Neisseria meningitidis
  • Calcium